GRANVILLE, Ohio (Nov. 26) – Sophomore guard Abby Cooch poured in a season-high 23 points and dished out five assists to help fuel the Denison University women's basketball team in a 77-69 win over visiting Mount St. Joseph in non-conference play Tuesday evening at Livingston Gymnasium. 
 
The victory improves Denison to 5-2 overall. Mount St. Joseph falls for the first time this season and now sits at 4-1 overall.
 
Cooch was backed by three others who scored in double figures, as Denison boasted a strong all-around offensive effort. Sophomore guard Violet Mitchell used an efficient effort to post a career-high 17 points. Mitchell converted 6-of-8 field goal attempts and made all four of her free throw attempts. Senior post Bryana Woodard chipped in 16 points and five rebounds off the bench. Junior guard Brook Toigo added 11 points to give the Big Red four players in double figures. 
 
The score was tied twice in the opening quarter before a pair of layups by Woodard gave Denison the 10-6 lead at the 5:17 mark. Sophomore guard Adelyn Moore tallied the final four points of the opening frame to strengthen the Big Red lead to 19-11 after 10 minutes of play.
 
Denison moved its lead into double digits multiple times in the second quarter. The lead swelled to 31-16 at the 4:09 mark after Cooch, Mitchell and Woodard all converted layups within a minute span. The Big Red maintained a healthy lead for the remainder of the quarter. Mitchell recorded the final two field goals of the half for Denison. 
 
The Lions made things interesting in the second half. MSJ shot 58.8 percent from the field in the third quarter to outscore Denison by a 25-17 during those 10 minutes. That sustained run allowed MSJ to cut Denison's lead back into single digits. 
 
A layup on their opening possession of the fourth quarter trimmed the Denison advantage to five points (57-52). However, the Big Red were able to push the lead back into double figures behind more strong play from Mitchell, who accounted for three straight Denison field goals. Mitchell followed a made three-point field goal with a layup to push the lead back to 66-55 with 6:48 to play. 
 
MSJ was able to cut the Denison lead to five points on two more occasions. However, the Big Red were able to get things done at the free throw line, making its final eight attempts to finish off the victory. 
 
Denison converted 25-of-53 attempts (47.2 percent) from the field. The Big Red knocked down six-of-16 three-point attempts (37.5 percent) and put together a strong night at the free throw line, making 21-of-25 attempts (84 percent) at the charity stripe. 
 
The Big Red held advantages in bench points (20-4), points in the paint (38-26) and rebounding (38-32).
 
Up Next: Denison returns to action with its conference opener against DePauw University on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Start time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. between the Big Red and the Tigers.